Water saving attachments for toilet gravity flush tanks

ABSTRACT

A water saving attachment for gravity flush tanks of water closets wherein the available supply of water for each flush is reduced by a fixed volume. Specifically, this reduction is effected by forming within the tank a water retention compartment having a segment of its side wall perimeter and its entire bottom formed from segments of the tank side wall and tank bottom respectively, the remaining segment of the compartment side wall consisting of a dam or weir for impounding said fixed volumn of water during all phases of operation of the tank mechanism. Pivoted arms are provided adjacent opposite ends of the dam to facilitate introduction of the dam into and securement thereof to the flush tank.

United States Patent 91 Throckmorton et a1.

[ WATER SAVlNG ATTACHMENTS FOR TOILET GRAVITY FLUSH TANKS [75] Inventors: Thomas Marvin Throckmorton;

Charles M. Crawford, Ill, both of Washington, D0

[73] Assignee: Metropolitan Watersaving Co., Inc., Washington, DC.

22 Filed: May 14, 1973 21 App1.No.:359,750

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 193,800, Oct. 25,

[51] Int. Cl E0311 1/20, E03d l/22, E03d l/3O [58] Field of Search 4/1, 18, 34, 67 A, 18.5, 4/67 R, 57 R, 57 P, 52, 41, 42, 28, 20, 29

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Linfoot 4/18 Williams 4/57 R [111 3,811,134 May 21, 1974 Primary Examiner-Henry K. Artis Attorney, Agent, or Firm-LeBlanc & Shur 5 7] ABSTRACT A water saving attachment for gravity flush tanks of water closets wherein the available supply of water for each flush is reduced by a fixed volume. Specifically, this reduction is effected by forming within the tank a water retention compartment having a segment of its side wall perimeter and its entire bottom formed from segments of the tank side wall and tank bottom respectively, the remaining segment of the compartment side wall consisting of a dam or weir for impounding said fixed volumn of water during all phases of operation of the tank mechanism. Pivoted arms are provided adjacent opposite ends of the dam to facilitate introduction of the dam into and securement thereof to the flush tank 14 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAYZI 1974 3.81 l; 134

sum 1 0r 2 PATENTEUMAYZI 1974 vSHEET 2 [IF 2 WATER. SAVING ATTACHMENTS FOR TOILET GRAVITY FLUSH TANKS This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 193,800 filed Oct. 25, 1972.

This invention relates to water saving devices for use in combination with conventional toilet gravity flush tanks, and more especially to an attachment of this character which is capable of quick installation and removal from the tank with little or no interference with the water flushing and replenishing mechanism.

Heretofore, numerous devices have been provided for reducing the effective volume of gravity flush tanks to correspondingly reduce the amount of water used for each flushing operation. These prior art devices have not been entirely satisfactory due, in part, to problems encountered during installation, and during removal when repair or replacement became necessary.

As may be observed in the Walker et al. US. Pat. No. 3,259,918, for example, the flushing and automatic water replenishing mechanism includes numerous coordinated elements such as floats, trip levers, valves, overflow pipes, refill tubes and valve stems which are positioned mainly in the upper portion of the tank. Optimum operating efficiency of these elements requires sensitive and precise adjustments often difficult to make; and even when made, can easily become maladjusted. On the other hand, optimum operating efficiency of the simpler types of water saving devices such as shown in the aforementioned patent is best realized when located on the tank bottom and below the flushing mechanism. When installing and removing these conventional devices, it is necessary to disconnect or disturb the adjustment of the flushing mechanism in order to gain access to the tank bottom therebelow. Accordingly, a long-felt need has existed for a water saving device capable of installation and removal on the bottom of conventional flush tanks without interference with the flushing mechanism.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide within a gravity flush tank of the type described, a quickly detachable dam or weir so constructed and arranged relative to the tank bottom and side wall as to impound a fixed proportion of the total flush water volume of the tank. In particular, a separable water retention compartment is formed within the tank, said compartment having a bottom consisting entirely of the bottom surface of the tank; and having a side wall formed partially of the tank side wall and the remaining part from the above-mentioned dam or weir. Thus, a substantial portion of the retention compartment is formed from portions of the conventional flush tank thereby economizing in costs of material and manufacture.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a water saving attachment of the type described which is simple and durable in construction, efficient in opera tion, easy to install and remove, practically maintenance free, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and in first cost to the user.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a water savings attachment of the foregoing type which constitutes an improvement over the attachment disclosed in Ser. No. 193,800 in that, inter alia, strut assemblies utilized to secure the dam in place in the flush tank, are pivotally secured at opposite ends of the dam between a first position eliminating or minimzing any interference between the assemblies and the various parts of the flush tank upon installation of the dam and a second position effectively sealing the end and bottom edges of the dam against walls of the flush tank thereby to effect water savings within the flush tank.

It is a related object of this invention to provide a water savings attachment of the foregoing type and having an improved seal for sealing between the dam and the walls of the flush tank.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a toilet gravity flush tank embodying the present invention, portions of the tank cover being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of FIG. 1, portions of the front wall of the tank and of the cover being broken away and other portions shown in section;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken along line 33 in FIG. 2, showing means for securing the attachment 38 according to the invention in operative position within the tank;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the attachment shaped as shown in FIG. I, but removed from the tank;

FIG. 5 is a top edge view of the attachment when occupying a straight flattened position;

FIG. 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the flush tank, showing a modified form of the invention in which means are provided for varying the fixed proportion of the volume of flush water impounded in the tank;

FIG. 7 is a sectional detail view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a further form of partition or weir attachment constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a top edge view of the attachment illustrated in FIG. 8 in a straight or flattened out configuration;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are fragmentary cross-sectional views of the bottom of the flush tank and illustrating a sequence of steps for securing the partition illustrated in FIG. 8 within the flush tank;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the seal between the partition of FIG. 8 and a wall of the flush tank; and

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the upper edge of the partition with one of the knock-outs removed.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 denotes broadly a flush tank assembly of a conventional water closet comprising a tank 11 having a horizontal bottom portion 12 and a vertical side wall portion 13 integral with the perimeter of the bottom portion. A cover 14 is removably mounted upon the tank.

The interior of tank 1 1 is provided with water supply pipe 15, inlet valve 16, float arm 17, ball float l8 and a water discharge subassembly generally designated as 19. This subassembly includes valve seat 25, ball valve 26, lower ball valve stem 27, stem guide 28, overflow pipe 29 and refill tube 30, these parts being operable by means of a trip mechanism consisting of upper valve stem 33, lever 34 and trip handle 35. Normally the ball float 18 is supported by water when at a predetermined high level 36, at which time, the inlet valve 16 is held in closed position.

During a conventionalflushing operation, the trip handle 35 and its associated elements 33 and 34 are actuated to lift ball valve 26 from seat 25 thereby permitting discharge of the entire water content from the tank into the flush bowl therebelow. As float l8 falls with the water level during the discharge, valve 16 will be opened to replenish the water supply and, also, water will flow through refill tube 30, into overflow pipe 29, and thence to the toilet bowl (not shown).

In order to reduce the available supply of water in tank 11 for each flush, a U-shaped dam, partition or weir attachment broadly designated as 38 is provided, said attachment adapted to rest upon tank bottom 12 with its ends abutting the interior surface of the tank side wall so as to form a compartment for retaining a fixed volume of water at all times at the bottom portion of the tank. Preferably, the attachment 38 comprises an elongated sheet 39 of flexible plastic or similar material, said sheet having spaced transversely disposed grooves or bend lines 40 therein, thereby subdividing the sheet into a plurality of connected rectangular panels 41. The opposite ends and the intermediate bottom edges of sheet 39 has attached thereto a sealing strip 42, made of soft rubber or similar materiahWhen attachment 38 is installed, the sealing strip 42 forms a water-tight bond with the bottom and sidewall of tank 1 l It will be observed in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 that the intermediate portion of sealing strip 42 rests upon tank bottom 12 along junction line 44 while the end portions of the strip about the interior surface of the tank side wall 13 along spaced jucntion lines 45, 45 to subdivide the bottom portion of the tank into a discharge compartment 48 communicating with the discharge valve seat 26, and a water retention compartment 49. The upper edge 50 of attachment plate 39 serves as a weir over which water flows when the tank is flushed and until the water level falls to lever 52. Upon reaching the latter level, the water continues to discharge from compartment 48 while the water in compartment 49 is impounded. As shown, the top edge 50 is horizontal to provide a weir of maximum capacity. Where openings are provided below the edge 50, as shown in the modifled embodiment (FIG. 6), the weir capacity is the maximum at level 52 and at a reduced capacity at level 52a. This latter provision gradually reduces the rate of waterflow from the tank into the bowl at the end of the flush.

Each of the legs of the U-shaped attachment 38 is provided with a strut assembly 54 for yieldingly holding the associated bottom and end portions of sealing grip 42 against tank bottom 12 and tank side wall surface 13 as at 44 and 45 respectively. The strut assembly may be composed of a tubular member 56 removably mounted in a pair of spaced outstanding lugs 41a integral with each end panel 41, said tubular member having one end closed as at 57 and its opposite end closed by a nut 58 (FIG. 3). A rod 59 has its intermediate portion slidably penetrating nut 58, the inner end of said rod having formed thereon a head 60 slidably mounted inside tubular member 56 and its opposite end supporting a suction cup 62. Acompression spring 61 is confined within member 56 between closed end 57 and enlarged head 60 to normally urge the strut assembly to extended position.

It is important to note that the longitudinal axis 64 of each strut assembly 54 is inclined upwardly at angle A relative to horizontal reference line 65 which, in turn, is parallel to tank bottom 12. When attachment 38 is installed, the resultant stress carried by each assembly 54 will have a horizontal and a vertical stress component acting to press the sealing strip 42 against the tank side wall as at 45, and against the the bottom as at 44 respectively to thereby securely hold the attachment in position (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). The resultant stress of each strut assembly 54 is transmitted from tubular member 56 to one of the panel lugs 41a by means of a circumferential rib integral with the tubular member. When the attachment is removed'from the tank, the strut assemblies may be moved longitudinally of the lugs to separated positions relative to their respective lugs.

To install attachment 38, it is first inserted endwise into the top of the tank and while in a substantially flat position as shown in FIG. 5. During insertion, the leading end of the attachment passes downwardly through a suitable opening between the tank side wall and the conventional elements at the top of the tank. After the leading end passes below the elements, the attachment may be bent gradually to a suitable shape as the trailing end enters at which time, it is bent further as it occupies its installed U-shaped position. Finally, the strut assemblies 54 are adjusted to assume the yieldable compressive stresses tending to hold the sealing strip 42 in position as previously described.

Although the drawings illustrate attachment 38 installed with a U-shaped configuration, it is to be understood that it may assume any suitable shape as long as its bottom edge is pressed into sealing engagement with the tank bottom and its opposite ends pressed against the interior surface of the tank side wall at spaced locations to subdivide the interior bottom portion of the tank into a water discharge compartment such as at 48 and a water retention compartment such as 49. Also, by employing a plastic having the desired flexibility, the sheet 39 may be bent to the desired shape without any bend lines such as indicated at 40.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, a modified embodiment 38a of the attachment is shown wherein means are provided for varying the height of the minimum water level in the retention compartment. Attachment 38a is identical to attachment 38, previously described, except the panels thereof are designated by numerals 41b and except for the further provision-of weir openings 67 at different elevations, which openings are closable by removable closures 68. The maximum height of attachment may be the same as that of attachment 38 to retain water in compartment 49 at level 52; or by removing the closures 68 from the upper row of openings 67 as shown in FIG. 6, a lower minimum water level 52a may be established; or by removing closures 68 from the lower row of openings 67, a still lower minimum water level 52b may be established. As previously mentioned, the rate of water flow during the final stages of each flush may be varied or diminished by removing selected closures 68 from openings 67 thereby permitting part of the water from the water retention compartment to escape into the discharge compartment. For example, all of the closures could be removed from the upper row of openings 67 and part of the closures from the lower row to thereby establish progressively decreasing rates of flow during each flush, the maximum rate being prior to the water falling to level 152, a reduced rate I between levels 52 and 52a, and a still further reduced rate between levels 52a and 52b.

In the drawings, it will be noted that a stream of water enters tank 11 at valve 16 and then flows downwardly through the upper portion of the tank into the impounding compartment 49, thence over spillway 50 into discharge compartment 48. Hence, compartment 49 is located on the upstream side of spillway 50 and compartment 48 on the downstream side (FIGS. l-5). The three spillways 50, 67 and 67 (FIGS. 6 and 7) bear a similar relationship to compartments 49 and 48.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, there is illustrated another form of partition constructed in accordance with the present invention, this partition being generally designated 80. Partition 80 comprises an elongated sheet 82 of flexible plastic or similar material. In this form a plurality of vertically extending V-shaped grooves or score lines 84 are formed along one side of partition sheet 82 whereby a plurality of laterally spaced panels 86 are formed, the central and side panels 88 and 90 being respectively larger in width than the intermediate panels 86. The upper edges of the side panels 90 are grooved at 92 to form generally rectangular knock-outs 94.

A sealing strip 96 is provided about the lower and end edges of partition 80. Particularly, the end edges of partition 80 are provided with flanges 98 extending laterally to opposite sides of the partition. The lower edge of partition 80 is provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced flanges 100 projecting laterally to opposite sides of the partition, the flanges being longtiudinally interrupted at the grooves 84 to permit the partition to bend about grooves 84. The inner edge of sealing ring 96 is provided with a longitudinally extending key slot 102 defined by opposed walls 93 for receiving the end and bottom flanges 98 and 100 respectively along the end and bottom margins of the partition. The seal 96 is thus readily applied about the ends and bottom of partition 80 by separating walls 93 whereby the flanges 98 and 100 are readily received within the key slot 102. Flanges 106 extend laterally from opposite sides of the end panels 90 while flanges, not shown, extend laterally from several of the intermediate panels 86 and from the central panel 88, these flanges being spaced back from the flanges 98 and 100 respectively and providing further support for seal 96.

The outer face of seal 96 is provided with a pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending sealing surfaces 108. Particularly, the outer face of seal 96 is recessed at 110 and the sealing surfaces 108 are spaced on opposite sides of recess 110. The sealing surfaces 108 constitute highly flexible resilient seals providing a double seal between the flush tank wall and the parti tion, as best illustrated in FIG. 12.

The opposite ends of partition 80 are provided with strut assemblies generally designated 100 for maintaining seal 96 in sealing engagement with flush tank bottom and side walls. Particularly each strut assembly includes a tubular housing 122 having at one end a pin 124 received through an opening in partition 80 adjacent an end margin thereof. The backside of pin 124 is secured to the partition by a lock washer 126. Tubular housing 122 carries a helical spring 128, one end of which is secured to the inner end of a rod 130. The outer end of rod 130 carries a bearing 132 having a generally spherical end surface portion 134 with a central opening 136. A stop, not shown, is provided in each tubular housing 122 to preclude withdrawal of the associated rod 130 from its housing 122. A pin 138 projects laterally outwardly from each of the opposite end panels and forms a stop for the tubular housing 122 carried thereby preventing further downward pivotal movement of the housing and rod 130. As will be appreciated from a review of FIGS. 10 and 11, each housing 122 and its rod 130 are pivotal between positions generally parallel to the end edges of partition 80 and a position with the housing resting on stop 138 (FIG. 11). In this latter position, the housing and rod are slightly inclined relative to the lower edge of the partition whereby vertical and horizontal components of force are developed when the partition or dam is disposed in the flush tank, as will now be described.

As in the prior embodiment, the partition 80 is inserted edgewise into the top of the tank with the lower horizontal sealing surface facing downwardly. The strut assemblies 120 are pivoted such that they lie generally parallel to the end edges of the partition. Once partition 80 is located in the tank past the conventional valving and activating elements at the top of the tank, it may be bent gradually to assume the generally U- shape illustrated. After this shape is obtained, the strut assemblies 120 are pivoted from the position illustrated in FIG. 10 to the position illustrated in FIG. 1] simply by pressing downwardly on the tubular housings 122 to engage bearings 132 against the opposite wall of the tank and the housing 122 against stops 133. The seal 96 along the end edges and the lower edge of the partition is thus forced against the side and bottom walls of the tank. The vertical and horizontal force components developed by the springs 128 on the partition 80 engage and bias seal 96 against the side and bottom walls of the tank. Note that the portion of the seal 96 along the ends of the partition changes its configuration from top to bottom. At the top the recess is shallow with the seals 108 separated a substantial distance one from the other while at the bottom of the end portion of the seal the recess 110 is deep with seals 108 more closesly spaced one to the other. The seal along the bottom of the partition is similar to that along the bottom of the end portion. Thus, the seals 108 along the bottom are longer and more flexible in comparison with the seals at the top of the end edges, seals 108 along the ends becoming less flexible toward the top of the partition. This configuration facilitates the formation of the seal with the applied vertical and horizontal force components and particularly along the bottom of the parti tion.

With the seal thus formed, and with the partition surrounding valve 26 at the bottom portion of the tank, the tank is subdivided into a discharge compartment communicating with valve 26 and a water retention compartment defined between the walls of the partition and the walls of the flush tank. It will be appreciated that the partition can be inserted into the tank at other locations whereby the water retained within the flush tank is defined by the volume of the U-shaped partition. That is, while the U-shaped partition preferably surrounds the valve, it may be spaced from it whereby V, the water saved constitutes the volume defined by the partition, and the side and bottom wall of the flush tank within the U-shaped partition.

It is also significant in the present invention that the pivotal axes of the strut assemblies are located to direct the vertical and horizontal components of the forces at the pin 124 to optimize the sealing of the end and bottom portions of the partition. Particularly, it has been found that the pivotal axis of pins 124 should be located within a range of from 20 percent to 40 percent of the height of the partition from its bottom. With that location, the inclination of the strut asemblies, the seal configuration itself, an improved and more effective seal between the partition and the flush tank walls is provided.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by US. letters Patent is:

1. In a water closet of the type having a tank formed by bottom and side walls and providing a hydraulic head and storage of predetermined height and capacity, having a movable flush valve mounted in the bottom wall of the ank and seated in one end of a conduit connecting the tank to a lower positioned bowl, having manual handle means to open the valves to empty the tank and cooperative water supply means for refilling the tank upon valve return to a closed position, the opening of the valve normally causing initiation of flushing and bowl evacuation followed by substantial emptying of the tank and then closing of the valve, the improvement comprising, in combination, an auxiliary thin rectangular wall member adapted to be vertically positioned and bent within the tank into a U-like form whereby the end edges of the wall member contact an interior vertical wall surface of the tank and one of the side edges of the wall member contacts the interior bottom wall surface to form in effect an open top column extending above and around the valve and closed at the bottom by the bottom wall of the tank and closed at the side by said interior vertical wall surface forming a continuation of the wall area of said wall member; and spring retainer means adapted to retain said wall member in said column form and with the respective contacting wall member end and side edges and tank wall surfaces in relatively tight engagement to minimize water flow therebetween, said spring retainer means including a pair of elements pivotally carried by said wall member adjacent its opposite ends, respectively, said elements being pivotal between first and second positions, respectively, spaced from and engageable with the tank wall surfaces, said wall member and retainer means thereby being effective upon said valve being opened to prevent emptying of said tank below a level substantially equal to the level of said column top end and to cause said valve to seat and said tank to start refilling substantially immediately after said evacnation.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said spring retainer means includes a pair of tubular housings each pivotally connected at one end to said wall member respectively adjacent its opposite ends, said elements being axially receivable in said housings and a spring in each said housing engaging the element carried thereby for biasing the same in a direction away from the pivotal axis of said tubular housing.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said wall member lies substantially in a single plane prior to being bent into said U-like form, said elements being carried for pivotal movement in a plane generally parallel to said first mentioned plane.

4. Apparatus according to claim I wherein said wall member when bent into generally U-like form is defined in part by a pair of end panels lying in spaced planes, each of said elements being carried by an end panel for pivotal movement in a plane generally parallel to the plane containing said end panel 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including a stop carried by each of said end panels, said elements being respectively engageable against said stops in the second position thereof.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4 including a seal carried by said one side edge and said end edges of said wall member, said elements in said second position thereof inclining from their pivotal axes in directions away from said one side edge and from their respective end edges whereby the portions of said seal about the end edges and one side edge of said wall member are biased into respective engagement with the vertical and bottom wall surfaces of said tank.

7. Apparatus disposable within a flush tank having opposed side walls and a bottom wall defining a chamber with an outlet in the bottom wall for evacuating the chamber comprising an elongated generally rectangular wall member having end and side edges, said member being foldable about at least a pair of spaced axes extending substantially parallel to its end edges to form a generally U-shaped configuration, a seal carried by said wall member and extending along said end edges and one of said side edges, and means carried by said wall member for retaining the same when in said generally U-shaped configuration within the flush tank with the portions of said seal extending along the end and one side edge of said member in substantial sealing engagement with one of the side walls and the bottom wall, respectively, of the flush tank, said retaining means including a pair of elements, respectively, pivotally carried by said wall member adjacent its opposite ends for swinging movement into and out of positions engageable with the side wall of the tank opposite the side wall thereof engageable by the end sealing portions of said seal.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 including means carried by said wall member for retaining said elements in positions inclining away from their pivotal axes and in a direction away from said one side edge.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said retaining means for each said element includes a stop carried adjacent the corresponding end of said wall member and projecting into the path of movement of the element carried thereby.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the pivotal axis of each of said elements is located a distance spaced from said one side edge within a range of distances from 20 percent to 40 percent of the distance between the side edges of said wall member.

11. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said retainer means includes a pair of tubular housings each pivotally connected at one end to said wall member, respectively, adjacent its opposite ends, said elements being axially receivable in said housings and a spring in each said housing engaging the element carried thereby for biasing the same in a direction away from the pivotal axis of said tubular housing.

12. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said wall member lies substantially in a single plane prior to being folded into said generally U-shaped configuration, said elements being carried for pivotal movement in a plane generally parallel to said first mentioned plane when said wall member lies in said single plane, said wall member when folded into said generally U- shaped configuration being defined in part by a pair of end panels lying in spaced planes, each of said elements being carried by an end panel for pivotal movement in a plane generally parallel to the plane containing said end panel when said member obtains such U-shape configuration.

13. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said wall member retaining means includes resilient means for biasing said elements in directions away from their pivotal axes, means carried by said wall member for retaining said elements in positions inclining away from their pivotal axes and in a direction away from said one side edge, said elements when in said inclined positions thereof and engaged with the side wall of the tank biasing said end and one side edges into substantial sealing engagement with one of the side walls and the bottom wall, respectively, of the flush tank.

14. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said seal is formed of resilient material and has a pair of laterally spaced sealing portions coextensive therewith along said end and one side edges whereby said pair of sealing portions form a double seal along the one side wall and bottom wall of the flush tank.

UMTQD s't-x'nis m'rnxfr OFFICE 5 CERTIFICATE OPCORRECTION Patent 110. 3i8ll,l34 Dated May 21, 1974 Inventor(s) Thomas Marvin Throckmorton and Charles M. Crawford III It is certified that rror appears in the above-identified patent and that Paid Letters Patent are hereby corretted as shown below:

r I I In the Abstract, line 10, 'volumn" should read "volume".

In Column 3, line 40, "lever 52" should read --level 52--.

In Column 7, line 7, "the seal" should read --and the seal--; line 26,, "ank" should read ---tank--.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of October 1974,

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Comiasi oner of Patents 

1. In a water closet of the type having a tank formed by bottom and side walls and providing a hydraulic head and storage of predetermined height and capacity, having a movable flush valve mounted in the bottom wall of the ank and seated in one end of a conduit connecting the tank to a lower positioned bowl, having manual handle means to open the valves to empty the tank and cooperative water supply means for refilling the tank upon valve return to a closed position, the opening of the valve normally causing initiation of flushing and bowl evacuation followed by substantial emptying of the tank and then closing of the valVe, the improvement comprising, in combination, an auxiliary thin rectangular wall member adapted to be vertically positioned and bent within the tank into a U-like form whereby the end edges of the wall member contact an interior vertical wall surface of the tank and one of the side edges of the wall member contacts the interior bottom wall surface to form in effect an open top column extending above and around the valve and closed at the bottom by the bottom wall of the tank and closed at the side by said interior vertical wall surface forming a continuation of the wall area of said wall member; and spring retainer means adapted to retain said wall member in said column form and with the respective contacting wall member end and side edges and tank wall surfaces in relatively tight engagement to minimize water flow therebetween, said spring retainer means including a pair of elements pivotally carried by said wall member adjacent its opposite ends, respectively, said elements being pivotal between first and second positions, respectively, spaced from and engageable with the tank wall surfaces, said wall member and retainer means thereby being effective upon said valve being opened to prevent emptying of said tank below a level substantially equal to the level of said column top end and to cause said valve to seat and said tank to start refilling substantially immediately after said evacuation.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said spring retainer means includes a pair of tubular housings each pivotally connected at one end to said wall member respectively adjacent its opposite ends, said elements being axially receivable in said housings and a spring in each said housing engaging the element carried thereby for biasing the same in a direction away from the pivotal axis of said tubular housing.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said wall member lies substantially in a single plane prior to being bent into said U-like form, said elements being carried for pivotal movement in a plane generally parallel to said first mentioned plane.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said wall member when bent into generally U-like form is defined in part by a pair of end panels lying in spaced planes, each of said elements being carried by an end panel for pivotal movement in a plane generally parallel to the plane containing said end panel.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4 including a stop carried by each of said end panels, said elements being respectively engageable against said stops in the second position thereof.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 4 including a seal carried by said one side edge and said end edges of said wall member, said elements in said second position thereof inclining from their pivotal axes in directions away from said one side edge and from their respective end edges whereby the portions of said seal about the end edges and one side edge of said wall member are biased into respective engagement with the vertical and bottom wall surfaces of said tank.
 7. Apparatus disposable within a flush tank having opposed side walls and a bottom wall defining a chamber with an outlet in the bottom wall for evacuating the chamber comprising an elongated generally rectangular wall member having end and side edges, said member being foldable about at least a pair of spaced axes extending substantially parallel to its end edges to form a generally U-shaped configuration, a seal carried by said wall member and extending along said end edges and one of said side edges, and means carried by said wall member for retaining the same when in said generally U-shaped configuration within the flush tank with the portions of said seal extending along the end and one side edge of said member in substantial sealing engagement with one of the side walls and the bottom wall, respectively, of the flush tank, said retaining means including a pair of elements, respectively, pivotally carried by said wall member adjacent its opposite ends for swingiNg movement into and out of positions engageable with the side wall of the tank opposite the side wall thereof engageable by the end sealing portions of said seal.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 including means carried by said wall member for retaining said elements in positions inclining away from their pivotal axes and in a direction away from said one side edge.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said retaining means for each said element includes a stop carried adjacent the corresponding end of said wall member and projecting into the path of movement of the element carried thereby.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the pivotal axis of each of said elements is located a distance spaced from said one side edge within a range of distances from 20 percent to 40 percent of the distance between the side edges of said wall member.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said retainer means includes a pair of tubular housings each pivotally connected at one end to said wall member, respectively, adjacent its opposite ends, said elements being axially receivable in said housings and a spring in each said housing engaging the element carried thereby for biasing the same in a direction away from the pivotal axis of said tubular housing.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said wall member lies substantially in a single plane prior to being folded into said generally U-shaped configuration, said elements being carried for pivotal movement in a plane generally parallel to said first mentioned plane when said wall member lies in said single plane, said wall member when folded into said generally U-shaped configuration being defined in part by a pair of end panels lying in spaced planes, each of said elements being carried by an end panel for pivotal movement in a plane generally parallel to the plane containing said end panel when said member obtains such U-shape configuration.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said wall member retaining means includes resilient means for biasing said elements in directions away from their pivotal axes, means carried by said wall member for retaining said elements in positions inclining away from their pivotal axes and in a direction away from said one side edge, said elements when in said inclined positions thereof and engaged with the side wall of the tank biasing said end and one side edges into substantial sealing engagement with one of the side walls and the bottom wall, respectively, of the flush tank.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said seal is formed of resilient material and has a pair of laterally spaced sealing portions coextensive therewith along said end and one side edges whereby said pair of sealing portions form a double seal along the one side wall and bottom wall of the flush tank. 